JPH03236037A - Operation display device for zoom lens - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable a photographer to take a picture by zooming without feeling uneasy by displaying the driving direction and driving mode of the zoom lens on a display element in a finder. CONSTITUTION:When a control mode is set with a mode setting switch 19, a lighting circuit 24 makes the display element 30 illuminate continuously through a driver 32. A sequential lighting circuit 26 operates when a zoom control part 20 detects the setting of a motor-driving zoom mode and the zooming is performed to make the element 30 illuminates in order by the driver 32. Namely, while the lens is driven to its wide-angle side with a zoom switch 21, bar code type marks illuminate, one by one, in order from the right side. When the lens is driven to the telephoto side, the bar code marks illuminate, one by one, in order repeatedly from the left side to the right side. Thus, the zooming direction is displayed visually.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Technical Field] The present invention relates to a camera equipped with an electric zoom lens, in which the driving direction and driving mode of the zoom lens are displayed on a display element in the viewfinder. The present invention relates to a lens operation display device.

"Prior Art and its Problems" Recently, cameras with electrically driven zoom lenses have been developed. In addition to a manual zoom mode in which zooming is manually operated and an electric zoom mode in which zooming is driven electrically, the applicant has developed a controlled zoom mode, for example, a magnification that automatically controls the zoom lens so that the zoom lens has a constant size regardless of the distance of the subject. We are developing something with functions such as constant mode.

However, in conventional cameras, there is no display indicating the operating status of the zoom lens. Therefore,
There were cases where the photographer felt uneasy.

For example, when the photographer sets the constant magnification mode described above, the zoom lens is automatically driven.

However, if you forget that you have set this mode, a photo will be taken that is contrary to the photographer's wishes.

In addition, in electric zoom mode, the zoom lens is driven by the photographer's switch operation, but if the subject is dark, it is easy to tell whether it is being driven towards the tele end or wide end. There is an inconvenience that this is not possible.

``Object of the Invention'' The present invention has been made in order to eliminate such conventional problems, and provides a zoom lens that displays the driving direction of the zoom lens and the driving mode of the zoom lens on a display element in the viewfinder. The purpose of this invention is to provide a lens operation display device.

"Summary of the Invention" To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a zoom mode selection means for selecting which mode to drive a zoom lens in manual zoom, electric zoom, or controlled zoom; Alternatively, the present invention is characterized in that it includes a display means for displaying the zooming state in the viewfinder.

According to this configuration, the display means displays the driving direction of the zoom lens when the electric zoom mode is set, and also indicates that the mode is selected when the control zoom mode is set. will be displayed. This allows the photographer to easily recognize that the control zoom mode is set and the zooming direction.

The display means can be configured using an LED or an LCD.

The display mode of the display means performed by the display control means may be the same when the electric mode is selected and when the control mode is selected.

Furthermore, if the display on the display means is performed by sequentially or continuously lighting barcode-like marks whose lengths change uniformly, the direction in which the zoom lens is driven can be determined by the direction of sequential lighting. Continuous lighting can indicate that the control zoom mode is selected.

"Embodiments of the Invention" Examples of the present invention will be described in detail below based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of a zoom lens operation display device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a layout diagram of optical components of a camera.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a display element constituting display means in the zoom lens operation display device according to the present invention. Note that although this embodiment is an example applied to a single-lens reflex camera equipped with an automatic focusing device, only essential members are shown in the figure.

The control system of the zoom lens operation display device of the present invention includes a first
It is configured like the control block shown in the figure. The focus drive unit 10 controls the drive of a focus lens, and the zoom drive unit 12 controls a variable power lens (not shown). This focus drive section 10
and the zoom drive section 12 are controlled based on signals from the lens drive circuit 14.

The distance measuring unit 16 detects the distance to the subject,
The signal from the distance measuring section 16 is output to the distance measuring calculation section 18, where the amount of defocus for the subject is calculated and whether the subject is in focus or out of focus is determined. Note that when calculating this defocus amount, the zoom control unit 20 described later
Also referred to is the focal length signal etc. from .

The defocus information for the subject calculated by the distance measurement calculation unit 18 is output to the lens drive circuit 14, and based on this information, the lens drive circuit 14 drives the focus drive unit 10 to move the focus lens.

On the other hand, the signal from the zoom drive section 12 is output to the zoom control section 20 as a drive signal output means.
Out-of-focus information, 1. Zoom mode set by mode setting switch 19 as a zoom mode selection means for selecting manual mode, electric zoom mode, and control zoom mode (not shown), and zoom when these modes are selected. The driving amount and driving direction of the variable magnification lens are calculated by taking into consideration the lens driving amount calculation value and the like. The calculated driving amount and driving direction of the zoom lens are applied to the lens driving circuit 14, and the zoom driving section 12 drives the variable magnification lens based on this driving amount.

Note that the manual mode described above is a mode in which the zoom lens can be moved manually, the electric zoom mode is a mode in which zooming is performed to the tele side or wide side using the zoom switch 21, and the control zoom mode is, for example, This is a mode in which the zoom lens is driven under automatic control, similar to the constant image magnification mode, in which the subject is photographed at a constant size regardless of the distance.

In-focus/out-of-focus information calculated by the distance measurement calculation unit 18, the zooming direction calculated by the zoom control unit 20, and signals regarding the mode set by the mode setting switch 19 are output to the lighting control unit 22.

The lighting circuit 24 is activated when the mode set by the mode setting switch 19 is the control zoom mode, or when in-focus or out-of-focus is detected by the distance measurement calculation unit 18, and the lighting circuit 24 is activated when the display element 30 as a display means is activated. is lit continuously by the driver 32.

The sequential lighting circuit 26 is activated when the setting of the electric zoom mode is detected by the zoom control unit 20 and further zooming is performed, and causes the display elements 30 to be sequentially lit by the driver 32. In addition, the lighting control section 22, the lighting circuit 24,
The sequential lighting circuit 26 and the driver 32 constitute display control means.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the arrangement of optical components of the camera, which is roughly configured as follows.

Light incident from the zoom lens L is reflected by the main mirror 40, passes through the focusing plate 41, and enters the pentaprism 42.
There are two types: one that is guided to the main mirror 40 and one that is reflected by the sub-mirror 43 and guided to the AP module 16A that constitutes the distance measuring section 16.

The light guided to the pentaprism 42 forms a finder image. In addition, the viewfinder shows in-focus, out-of-focus,
A display element 30 is provided to display the tele end, wide end, zoom direction, and zoom mode set by the mode setting switch 19. Therefore, the subject image input through the pentaprism 42 and the above-mentioned display made by the display element 30 are projected in the viewfinder field of view. In the figure, 45 and 46 are photometric sensors, 47 is a TTL photometric sensor, and 48 is a film surface.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a specific configuration of the display element 30 shown in FIG. 2.

This display element 30 is mounted behind the pentaprism 42 (on the finder side) so that it can be seen at the bottom in the viewfinder field of view. A frame 50 of the display element 30 includes a flexible plate 51, an LED 52, and a conductive zebra 5.
3 is attached to the conductive zebra 53, and an LCD is further attached to the conductive zebra 53.
54 is attached. These parts are fixed by a holding plate 55. The LED 52 has marks for displaying in-focus, out-of-focus, zooming direction, and mode set by the mode setting switch 19, respectively. This LED 52 also has a function as an LED for illuminating the LCD 54.

The light from the display element 30 is guided into the finder optical system of the pentaprism 42 via the small prism 56.

Therefore, the operator can see the mark displayed by the display element 30 below the viewfinder field of view.

The zoom lens operation display device according to the present invention having such a configuration operates as schematically shown in FIG. 4.

When the mode setting switch 19 is set to the electric zoom mode and is electrically driven by the zoom switch 21, displays as shown in FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B) are displayed. That is, when the zoom switch 21 is being driven to the wide side, a barcode-like mark whose length changes uniformly is displayed at the fourth position while the zoom switch 21 is being driven to the wide side.
As shown in Figure (A), the lights are turned on one by one from the right side to the left side, and when the camera is being driven toward the telephoto side, a barcode-like mark is displayed while the drive is being performed (see Figure 4). As shown in B), the zooming direction is visually displayed in the viewfinder by repeatedly turning on the lights one by one from the left side to the right side.

In this case, the letters rPZJ indicating power zoom, as shown in FIG. 4(D),
It may also be made to blink while the zoom lens is being driven.

When the mode setting switch 19 is set to the control zoom mode, all the barcode-like marks are lit, as shown in FIG. 4(C). This lighting makes it easy to recognize that the control zoom mode is set. In addition, in this case, as shown in FIG. 4(E), the rP
The letters ZJ may also be lit.

Next, the process by which the display mode as described above is performed will be explained in detail based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

The flowchart shown in FIG.
9 is a flowchart showing a display mode when the electric zoom mode is selected by 9. FIG.

The zoom control unit 20 determines whether the control zoom mode is set or the electric zoom mode is set, and if the control zoom mode is selected, the process proceeds to a predetermined control zoom routine; If not, switch to manual mode and enable manual driving (step 10.11.12).

In the electric zoom mode, while the zoom switch is turned on to the telephoto side, the zoom drive unit 12 drives the zoom lens to the telephoto side, and the lighting control unit 22 sequentially controls the lighting circuit 26.
, the display element 30 via the driver 32 in FIG. 4(A).
The lights are turned on in sequence (steps 13 to 16).

Further, while the switch is turned on to the wide side, the zoom drive unit 12 drives the zoom lens to the wide side, and the lighting control unit 22 sequentially controls the display element 30 via the lighting circuit 26 and the driver 32 as shown in FIG. The lights are turned on sequentially as shown in (B) (steps 13.17.18.16). Then, when the switch is turned off, the lighting control section 22 turns off the display element, and the zoom driving section 12 stops driving the zoom lens (step 19.20).

The above is the operation in the power zoom mode, but when the control zoom mode is selected, the display shown in Fig. 4 (A) and Fig. 4 (B) will appear depending on the direction of zooming during zooming. It will be done. For example, when in the during-exposure zoom mode, which performs controlled zooming during exposure,
For example, the direction of zooming is shown in Fig. 4 (A) and Fig. 4 (
Display as shown in B). In this case, by changing the blinking speed before and during exposure, the direction of zooming and the actual zooming can be visually recognized.

As described above, in this embodiment, the driving direction of the zoom lens is displayed in the electric zoom mode, and in the control zoom mode, the mode is selected and the zooming direction is displayed in different display modes using the same display element. It is displayed in Therefore, it is possible to recognize the driving direction and mode selection of the zoom lens while looking through the viewfinder.

"Effects of the Invention" As is clear from the above explanation, according to the present invention, the set zoom mode and the driving direction of the zoom lens can be displayed on the display means, so that the person taking the picture may feel anxious. You can zoom and take pictures of aircraft without having to hold it.

4 is a diagram showing various display modes of the zoom lens operation display device according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a specific flowchart of the display mode shown in FIG. 4.

18... Distance calculation unit 20... Zoom control unit (drive signal pressure means) 22...
- Lighting control section (display control means) 24...Lighting circuit (display control means) 26...Sequential lighting circuit (display control means) 30...Display element (display means) 32...Driver (display means) )

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of the zoom lens operation display device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a layout diagram of optical components of the camera and the camera, and FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the zoom lens operation display device according to the present invention. Patent applicant for a structural patent for a display element constituting a display means: Asahi Optical Industry Co., Ltd. Agent: Kunio Miura Engraving of the drawings in Figures 1, 2, and 3 (no changes in content) (A) (B) ( C) (D) (E) Gogo Diagram Procedure Neho Seisho (Method) % Formula % 2. Name of invention Zoom lens operation display device Representative Toru Matsumoto Drawing 1991

Claims (6)

[Claims] (1) A zoom mode selection means for selecting whether to drive the zoom lens in manual zoom, electric zoom, or controlled zoom; and a display means for displaying the selected zoom mode in a finder. A zoom lens operation display device characterized by: (2) A zoom lens operation display device, wherein the display means according to claim 1 further displays an operation state of the zoom lens. (3) In claim 1, further comprising: drive signal output means for outputting a signal to drive the zoom lens toward the telephoto side or the wide side; and when the electric zoom mode is selected by the zoom mode selection means, The drive direction of the zoom lens is displayed on the display means based on the signal output from the drive signal output means, and when a control zoom mode is selected, it is displayed that the mode is selected. A zoom lens operation display device comprising: display control means for causing the display means to display information. (4) In claim 1 or 2, the display means includes L
A zoom lens operation display device characterized by being an ED or an LCD. (5) The zoom according to claim 3, wherein the display mode of the display means performed by the display control means is the same when the electric mode is selected and when the control mode is selected. Lens operation display device. (6) The zoom lens operation display device according to claim 4, wherein the display on the display means is performed by sequentially or continuously lighting barcode-like marks whose lengths vary uniformly.